The Palestine Chronology

FM Peres arrives in Cairo for brief mtg. with FM Musa on NPT issue, stresses Israel will not change position. Musa says Israel's refusal to sign NPT is fueling regional stability; its failure to abide by DOP has caused recent violence; says Egypt will pressure Israel to state a date for troop withdrawal fr. West Bank in emergency summit 2/1. (MENA 2/1 in FBIS 2/2; MM, NYT 2/2)

U.S. State Department releases annual human rights report on Israel and the o.t.; criticizes PA for 11/18 violence; Israel for abusing detainees, treatment of Israeli Arabs. Israelis say report is balanced. (MM 2/2; WJW 2/9)

UN Human Rights Comm. (UNHRC) monitor in Israel, Rene Felber, quits his position; suggests position be eliminated since Israel does not act on his reports, he believes condemning Israel for abuses does not help peace talks. UNHRC expresses shock. (WT 2/4)

Israel, PA reach final agmt. on Gaza port, announce construction will begin within 1 mo. (ITV 2/1 in FBIS 2/6)

Jerusalem Planning and Construction Comm. approves construction of 6,500 houses for new neighborhood in southern Jerusalem. 2,000 dunums of Palestinian land will be confiscated for the project. (QY 2/1 in FBIS 2/1)

1000's of Israelis gather in Tel Aviv to protest continuation of peace process. MKs fr. Likud, Tsomet, Moledet, Yi'ud, Shas participate. (MM 2/2)

IDF raids Hamas charities in West Bank, confiscates files, says charities are funneling money for military operations. (QY 2/1 in FBIS 2/1)

Unknown gunmen wound 3 Israelis in Hebron, West Bank. Leaflet found nearby claims responsibility for 'Izz al-Din Qassam brigades of Hamas. Palestinian residents of Hebron placed under strict curfew by IDF. (MM 2/2; WT 2/6)

UN Special Rapporteur Rene Felber tells Geneva mtg. of UN Human Rights Commission killings, torture, and land confiscation in o.t. have continued since 9/13 DoP, says both PLO and Israel should "contain violence." Felber also calls for independent investigation of torture allegations, release of Palestinian prisoners. (WT 2/5)

3 Tsomet MKs leave right-wing party to form "Independent and Democratic Israel," known by acronym of "Yi'ud." 3 charge party leadership with financial mismanagement. (Qol Yisra'el 2/2 in FBIS 2/3; MM 2/3; NYT 2/9; JP 2/12, 2/19)